April 24, 2012
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Shuguang GEKT88
The review sample was purchased from GD Audio (Good Components) where the price is currently listed as $29.50 per tube. This KT88 tube has grey solid plates, two rather large (although the size varies from tube to tube) side getter flashings, and a chrome-colored collar with a black base. The pins fit more snugly than I would have preferred both going in and coming out. Be extremely careful with them.
On initial power-up, at the lowest bias setting on the Premier 11A, there was a momentary crackling sound emitted by the speakers which immediately stopped. Although these tubes were brand new, the review sample was tested for over 30 hours and their sound did don’t change after 10 hours or so of cumulative playing time.
Label-side view of the GEKT88 The matched quad in the Premier 11A
The labels listing the matching information later detached themselves from the tubes and fell alongside the tube sockets inside the cover. Be careful removing them if you are using metal tweezers to extract them.
These tubes exhibited the typically rich and smooth sound of the KT88 family and, in particular, were extremely similar to the Shuguang KT 88-98 and Penta Labs KT88SC.
For the first five hours the GEKT88 exhibited excellent high frequency detail and extension. In this regard, they were most reminiscent of the New Sensor Gold Lion KT88, my current favorites of this type. However, at around the 10 hour mark the highs lost that extra degree of sparkle as the tubes burned in.
Listening Impressions:
- Good to very good leading edge transients and same level of detail.
- Continuous sound stage with very, very good width, depth and height. Solid images.
- Bass response is good although no more so than average.
- Midrange is good with a tendency toward warmth.
Overall, I would put these on par with the Shuguang KT 88-98 although they weren't identical in sound characteristics. However, the Penta KT88SC/Mullard PCC88 combination was superior. As good as the Shuguang GEKT88 were with sound staging, they weren’t a match for the Penta Labs KT88SC.
Comments (2)
Did the labels fall into the amp? Lordy. Gotta turn the amp off, let it cool down, move the tube, then go fishing.
@rpghero27 -
Yes, indeedy. All four of them took the plunge and fell into the well around the output tubes. It was when I was changing tubes for the next set under review that I noticed it'd happened so it wasn't a problem with having to shut down the amp because that was already done. Poking around with the tweezers, though, did make me uneasy. The test results labels are now taped to each of their respective boxes and all is right once again with the universe.